Kurt Cavadias' Fundraiser:

McGill University

THE STORY:

McGill Nourish International wrote -

Chapter: McGill University

Partner Organization: Project Amazonas

Project Description:

This year, McGill University Nourish and Project Amazonas are investing in a medicinal herb garden at a medical clinic and a tree nursery program in accord with 3 local primary schools in the Rio Orosa region of Peru.

Project Details:

We have partnered with a grassroots organization based out of Iquitos, Peru called Project Amazonas (PA). We will be working with three communities in the Rio Orosa region of the Amazon Basin (east of Iquitos). The communities we will be working with are Santo Tomas, the Comandancia, and Nuevo Israel.

Our project is made up of two parts:

1. Medicinal Herb Garden: PA is currently finishing the construction of a medical clinic at their Madre Selva Biological Station. With the help of community members, who have a wealth of knowledge about the medicinal value of herbs and plants from the rainforest, we will be establishing a medicinal herb garden. Members of these communities have traditionally practiced herbal medicine. Today, however, they do not have the resources to continue the practices of their heritage. Providing an option for the use of herbal medicine in the new clinic will provide alternative medicinal options and also educate the community about herbal medicine practices. Along with this, we will be writing and distributing pamphlets with information on the uses of the medicinal herbs.

2. Tree Nursery Program: In conjunction with three local primary schools in each of the communities, we will be working to build a sense of appreciation for the value of Amazonian trees. Today, harmful practices such as "slash and burn" deforestation are widespread in order to create agricultural fields. These technologies are not only dangerous and unsustainable, but many of the Amazonian trees are extremely valuable. Through education programs at the schools, we are hoping to create a sense of the value of these trees. We will also be establishing tree nurseries with the students.

If you are interested in hearing more about our project, check out our website at www.mcgill.nourish.org, or contact our Projects Director, Sally Maxwell, at sally.maxwell@mail.mcgill.ca.

Partner Background:

Project Amazonas (PA) is a non-political, non-sectarian, NGO working since 1994 to serve the people of the Amazon and conserve the rainforest. Their primary objectives are to provide the people of the Peruvian Amazon with adequate modern health care and health education, promote the sustainable use and conservation of the rainforest, and encourage self-sufficiency and self-reliance in the communities they work in.

PA has several programs working in medical care, conservation, education, and community sustainable development. In addition, they foster research activity in the Peruvian Amazon. With four field stations (biological research stations and forest reserves) located across the northeastern Peruvian province of Loreto, and with a fleet of several boats used for research, education, and medical groups, PA reaches many communities across Peru's Amazon basin.

If you would like to learn more about our partner organization, please visit their website at www.projectamazonas.org.

DONATION: $100

DONATION: $100

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